Vitex agnus-castus plant named &#39;V0509A-7&#39;

ABSTRACT

A  Vitex agnus - castus  plant named ‘V0509A-7’ has upright, large panicles, with white flowers borne more closely along the rachis, resulting in a stunning floral display.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Vitex agnus-castus.

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

The new Vitex agnus-castus claimed is of the cultivar denominated‘V0509A-7’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Vitexagnus-castus hereinafter referred to as ‘V0509A-7’.

Pedigree and history: ‘V0509A-7’ originated from a cross of Vitexagnus-castus ‘Abbeville Blue’ (unpatented, female parent) and Vitexagnus-castus ‘Silver Spires’ (unpatented, male parent), caged togetherwith honeybees as pollinators, in the summer of 2005, under thedirection of David Knauft. Seeds were collected from ‘Abbeville Blue’,and may have resulted from self-pollination or crosses with ‘SilverSpires’. These seeds were sown, and the seedlings were grown in thespring and summer of 2006. Sixteen plants were selected based ondesirable horticultural qualities, and were propagated via cuttings inAugust 2006. In April 2007, the resulting liners were transplanted intocontainers or the field at a location in Watkinsville, Ga. Based oncontainer and field performance, the plant identified by the cultivarname ‘V0509A-7’ was selected. Cuttings were made from this selectedplant, and distributed to Carol Robacker, who took over this breedingprogram in 2009. Asexually propagated ‘V0509A-7’ plants, propagated inGriffin, Ga. by cuttings in 2009, were planted in a replicated fieldplot (three reps, randomized block design) in Griffin, Ga. (coldhardiness zone 8a) in fall, 2009.

Plants have been evaluated for four years at the Griffin, Ga. site.Height and width data has been collected annually. Cold damage wasassessed each spring. Mean panicle length and number of panicles percompound panicle were counted each summer. First bloom and re-bloomdates were noted each year. Data was collected on leaf yellowing, leafdrop, thinning, and leaf spot in July, August and September of eachyear. In addition, two replicates were also planted in Blairsville, Ga.,in spring 2011, to assess performance in this colder environment (coldhardiness zone 6b). In March of 2011, rooted liners were shipped to alocation in Bonsall, Calif. for evaluation.

Vitex agnus-castus is a deciduous shrub or small tree used inlandscapes. This drought tolerant plant may be grown in cold hardinesszones 6 through 9. During cold winters in zone 6, it may die back to theground, but will likely re-grow from the roots and produce a floweringshrub during the following summer, as flower buds are formed on newgrowth. Late spring freezes in zone 7 may also cause cold damage anddieback, but the plants recover and bloom during the summer. The newplant is expected to be distributed for landscape use in the U.S. andperhaps in other countries.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘V0509A-7’ has been grown in an irrigated field plot in Griffin, Ga. andin a non-irrigated plot in Blairsville, Ga. Plants have been fertilizedannually in the spring. Height and width were measured annually.

The following characteristics have been consistently observed in theoriginal plant of this new variety and in asexually propagated progenygrown from cuttings and, to the best knowledge of the inventors, theircombination forms the unique characteristics of ‘V0509A-7’ as a new anddistinct cultivar. Asexual propagation by cuttings has proven that thesecharacteristics are firmly fixed in succeeding asexually propagatedgenerations.

-   -   1. Upright, larger panicles.    -   2. White flowers borne more closely together along the rachis.    -   3. More stunning floral display.

Comparison: ‘V0509A-7’ is an improved white Vitex, as compared to theindustry standard, ‘Silver Spires,’ the only commonly available whiteVitex. ‘Silver Spires is a smaller plant than ‘V0509A-7’ (Table 1).‘V0509A-7’ plants began blooming in the spring one week earlier than‘Silver Spires’ two out of three years evaluated (Table 2). Both haveminimal to moderate repeat blooming during summer and fall, thoughvariation was observed in different years (Table 3). Panicles on‘V0509A-7’ are longer and have a greater diameter than those on ‘SilverSpires’ (Table 4, FIG. 1). Furthermore, the distance between thepedicles on the rachis of the panicles of ‘V0509A-7’ was 1.3 cm versus2.1 cm on ‘Silver Spires’ (Table 4, FIG. 1), placing the flowers closertogether. These morphological differences result in a much showierfloral display on ‘V0509A-7’ (FIG. 2). Flower petals on both ‘V0509A-7’and ‘Silver Spires’ are white, though the anthers and filaments on‘V0509A-7’ are purple. Panicles are generally held upright on‘V0509A-7’, in contrast to ‘Silver Spires’ where panicles are orientedmore randomly (FIG. 2). In comparison to the white flowers of the newvariety ‘Abbeville Blue’ has flowers that are blue in coloration.

Selection ‘V0509A-7’ and ‘Silver Spires’ had no cold damage in any ofthe four years evaluated in Griffin, Ga. In Blairsville, Ga., a springfreeze in April 2012 caused extensive damage to all of the Vitex in ourtest plot. Both ‘Silver Spires’ and ‘V0509A-7’ lost all of the newlyemerged foliage. Both recovered, though ‘Silver Spires’ had several deadbranches, and flowering was delayed until August. Selection ‘V0509A-7’recovered more quickly, had very few dead branches, and flowered inJuly.

TABLE 1 Height and width (cm) of Vitex ‘V0509A-7’ and ‘Silver Spires’one, two and three years after planting in a field plot in Griffin,Georgia. Data for ‘V0509A-7’ is the average of three plants and ‘SilverSpires’ is based on one plant. Entry Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 ‘V0509A-7’ 178H × 242 W 228 H × 285 W 333 H × 338 W ‘Silver Spires’ 145 H × 196 W 233H × 272 W 273 H × 318 W

TABLE 2 First bloom dates of V0509A-7 and ‘Silver Spires’ grown inGriffin, GA. First First First bloom bloom bloom Entry 2011 2012 2013‘V0509A-7’ 5-30 5-21 6-10 ‘Silver Spires’ 6-06 5-21 6-17

TABLE 3 Repeat flowering in July, August, September and October in 2011,2012, and 2013. Entry Year July August September October ‘V0509A-7’ 20110* 0 0.3 0 2012 0.3 1.5 2.2 2.3 2013 1.0 0.2 2.8 2.7 ‘Silver Spires’2011 1.0 1.0 2.5 0 2012 0 1.5 3.0 3.0 2013 1.0 0 0.5 0.5 *Repeatflowering was rated using the following scale: 0 = no flowering; 1 = 10%full bloom; 2 = 20 to 30% full bloom; 3 = 40 to 50% full bloom; 4 = atleast 60% full bloom.

TABLE 4 Panicle length, diameter and number of secondary peduncles perpanicle, averaged over 2011, 2012, and 2013. Measurements were made onfour typical or average-sized panicles per plant per year. The distancebetween the pedicels on the rachis was based on measurements on fourtypical panicles. Mean Number of Distance Mean diameter secondarybetween panicle (cm) of sub- peduncles/ pedicels on the Entry length(cm) panicles panicle rachis* (cm) ‘V0509A-7’ 23 3.2 Two to six 1.3‘Silver Spires’ 21 1.9 Two to five 2.1 *Measurements were made betweenthe second and third pedicels from the bottom of the central panicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographic illustrations show the overallappearance and distinct characteristics of the new cultivar of Vitexagnus-castus. The colors in the photographs are as close as possiblewith the photographic and printing technology utilized.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of flowers of ‘Silver Spires’ (top) and‘V0509A-7’ (bottom). Photos were taken from flower clusters of similarblooming stage on Jun. 24, 2013.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of ‘V0509A-7’ (top) and ‘Silver Spires’ (bottom).‘V0509A-7’ has a more stunning display than ‘Silver Spires’, and thepanicles on ‘V0509A-7’ are more upright. Photos were taken Jul. 12,2013, on plants in Blairsville, Ga., that had been in the field for twoyears.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the Vitex agnus-castuscultivar named ‘V0509A-7’. Data was collected in Griffin, Ga. from threeyear old plants grown from cuttings and growing outdoors. ‘V0509A-7’ hasnot been tested under all possible conditions hence, phenotypicdifferences may be observed with variations in environmental conditionswithout any variance in genotype.

Parentage:

-   -   Female parent: ‘Abbeville Blue’    -   Male parent: either ‘Abbeville Blue’ or ‘Silver Spires’

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptlydescriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designatevalues based upon the R.H.S. Colour Chart, 5^(th) edition published byThe Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.), London, England. Thisdescription is from observations of typical three year old plantsgrowing in Griffin, Ga.

-   Habit: Open, spreading, upright-   Size (height×width): 373 cm×402 cm-   Texture: medium coarse-   Stems:    -   -   First year.—Color — Grey-Brown N199A Diameter — 5 mm            Pubescence — dense, minute curved hairs, scattered longer            curved hairs Exfoliation — none Shape — round Pith — Type:            Solid Diameter: 3 mm Color: Yellow-Green 150D Odor — strong,            spicy, acrid Lenticels — none observed Internode length — 8            cm.        -   Second year.—Color — Grey-Green 197A Diameter — 7-8 mm            Exfoliation — none.-   Vegetative buds:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Type.—Valvate.        -   Size.—1 mm×1 mm.        -   Scale number.—2.        -   Scale color.—Greyed-Orange 177D.        -   Position/disposition.—45°.        -   Number at node.—2, one on each side.        -   Pubescence.—dense minute hairs, wooly.        -   Shape.—domed, rounded.-   Leaf scar:    -   -   Shape.—cup shaped.        -   Vascular bundle traces.—3, horizontal and oval.        -   Pubescence.—dense minute hairs around perimeter.        -   Position of bud.—just above.        -   Color differentiation.—Yellow-Green 144A .        -   Size.—2.5×3 mm.-   Trunk or large stems:    -   -   Colors.—Mix of Greyed-White 156A and Greyed-Brown 199D.        -   Size stem that exfoliation begins on.—Approximately 5 cm.        -   Diameter.—3 to 5 cm.        -   Texture.—mostly smooth, striations start at approx. 3 cm,            cracking by 5.0 cm,-   Leaf:    -   -   Color through seasons.—Emerging — mid April Upper:            Yellow-Green 144A Lower: Greyed-Green 191B Summer — Mid July            Upper: Green 137A Lower: Greyed-Green 191 B Fall — September            Upper: Yellow-Green 147A Lower Greyed-Green 191B.        -   Mature size.—15 cm×19 cm.        -   Apex.—acute.        -   Base.—acute.        -   Margin.—mostly entire.        -   Shape.—palmate, mostly 7 leaflets Lobes — none Sinuses —            None        -   Vein color.—Greyed-Green 194D.        -   Pubescence.—Upper surface has many scattered hairs, with            more along the veins, slightly glandular surface. Lower leaf            is more densely hairy and has a very glandular surface.        -   Arrangement on stem.—opposite.        -   Venation.—simple.        -   Texture.—Thickness — 0.025 mm Degree of waxiness of surfaces            — slightly waxy but dull on upper surface, completely dull            on lower surface.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—6 cm.        -   Shape.—round.        -   Color.—upper Greyed-Orange 177A, lower Yellow-Green 145B.        -   Pubescence.—densely covered in minute curved hairs.        -   Diameter.—1.6 mm.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Size.—7 mm×4 mm.        -   Color.—Red-Purple 69D.        -   Shape.—teardrop.        -   Pubescence.—glandular surface, hairs laying flat.        -   Time of full maturity.—early summer.        -   Time range for showiness.—mid-June through September.-   Flower:    -   -   Inflorescence(s).—Type — elongated panicle, compound Size            (1×w) — 23 cm×8 cm (largest in panicle) Color — At            emergence: White N155B Full bloom: White N155B Fading: White            N155B Peduncle — Color: Greyed-Green 193A Pubescence: short            hairs, glandular Number of individual flowers per            inflorescence — 271-550.-   Petal(s):    -   -   Size.—10 mm×8 mm.        -   Shape.—zygomorphic, gamopetalous, bilabiate.        -   Apex.—5 lobes rounded and slightly curled.        -   Base.—Funnel.        -   Margin.—slightly curled.        -   Pubescence.—mostly glabrous, scattered glandular with thick            tuft of hairs inside base and many flat, glandular hairs            outside; a few longer hairs on anterior petal.        -   Texture.—mostly smooth, slightly punctate.        -   Color at peak of bloom.—Upper surface — White N155B Lower            surface — White N155B.        -   Pedicels.—Color — Greyed-Green 193A Pubescence — glandular,            very dense short hairs Length — 2-3 mm.        -   Sepals.—Size (1×w) — 3 mm×2 mm Shape — united, slightly            lobed Apex — slightly lobed Base — united, short tubular            Margin — smooth Pubescence — glandular, tomentose-short            hairs Texture — hoary Color at peak of bloom — Upper            surface: Greyed-Green 198A and Greyed-Green 193C Lower            surfaces: Yellow-Green 144C with Violet-Blue 93C.        -   Male reproductive structures.—Number — 4 Anther — Size            (1×w): 1.5 mm×0.5 mm Color: Violet 86A Filament — Size            (1×w): 7 mm×x.0.5 mm Color: Purple 76B Pollen color — White            155C Pubescence — thick tuft at base.        -   Female reproductive structures.—Pistil — Shape: tubular,            bifid Size (1×w) — 6.5 mm×0.5 mm Position — superior Color —            Violet 84B Pubescence — thickly tufted hairs at base Stigma            — Shape: round, bifid Color: White 155C Pubescence: none            Style — Length: 6 mm Shape: tubular, forked at stigma            (bifid) Color: Violet 84B Pubescence: none, but tufted at            base Ovary — Shape: round Number: 1 Pubescence: scattered            short hairs, numerous glands present on surface.-   Fruit:    -   -   Type.—drupe-like.        -   Size (1×w).—3.5 mm×2.5 mm.        -   Colors during ripening.—Early — Yellow-Green 151B Mid —            Greyed-Orange 166B Late — Brown 200A.        -   Shape.—globular.        -   Number per infructescence.—1.        -   Pubescence.—few scattered hairs.        -   Number of carpels.—2.        -   Persistence.—mid to late summer through fall into winter.-   Seed:    -   -   Shape.—globular.        -   Size.—3.5 mm×2.5 mm, oval.        -   Color.—Brown 200A when fully ripe.        -   Number per locule per ovary per fruit.—1.        -   Germination capacity.—≈30%.        -   Pubescence.—scattered minute hairs.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of the Vitexagnus-castus plant named ‘V0509A-7’ substantially as illustrated anddescribed therein.